Current Netherlands coach van Gaal has replaced David Moyes as United boss and has been handed the same opening fixture as his predecessor.

Moyes’ first league game in charge of United produced a 4-1 win over Swansea at the Liberty Stadium on the opening day of last season and van Gaal will hope for a repeat on August 16.

United then face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light before meeting the three clubs promoted from the Championship – Burnley, Queens Park Rangers and Leicester City.

The first Manchester derby of the season comes at the Etihad Stadium on November 1, a week after United have hosted Chelsea, and there is also a trip to Arsenal in November.

Liverpool’s visit to Old Trafford is scheduled for December 13, while United are at home to Newcastle on Boxing Day, travel to Tottenham Hotspur two days later before facing Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on New Year’s Day.

March and April are packed with big games for United, including trips to Liverpool, Chelsea and Everton, along with the return derby against Manchester City on April 11.

United’s final home game of the season is against Arsenal on May 16 before a trip to Hull City closes the term in a repeat of their final day encounter from the 2008/09 campaign.

ood grief. Someone guessed that the form English player at the moment might be in his national side with some other players? And that's espionage? Now if they discovered that Emile Heskey was going to be in the starting line up.... at right back.... THAT would be espionage. Give it a rest Roy.